A pictorial collection of historic estates and vintage homes from the collections of the Arcadia Historical Society is now exhibiting at the Ruth and Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum, through August 20, 2011. Carol Libby curated it. On exhibit are Anoakia, the Southern California Nursery (later a residence), La Cuccia, Prince Eric of Denmark's home, and the Burnell Oaks Estate, among others.
Historic preservation coming to Arcadia. City is in process of drafting ordinances on historic preservation aimed at safeguarding historic districts, structures and buildings. Ordinances are expected to provide defined procedures and criteria for property owners and communities to judge their historic relevance. Correction: see Arcadia Weekly, p. 10, February 22, 2018 and another correction Arcadia Weekly, p. 13, March 1, 2018. Correction to the Historic preservation coming to Arcadia article. Arcadia Weekly recently ran an article about the Arcadia City Council drafting a historic preservation ordinance. It incorrectly read, "The draft would demand the consent of 60% of property owners along with Planning Commission review and City Council adoption." The corrected statement reads, "The Draft Historic Preservation Ordinance proposes that at least 60% of properties within the district must contribute to the historic significance of the district and 75% of the property owners within the district need to consent to the designation."
Arcadia City Council makes changes to Historic Preservation Ordinance. Council member Tom Beck speaks about saving Clara Baldwin Stocker's home, which is facing possible destruction. See hard copy in VF City Council (2010-2019).
Raising a failing preservation grade. The Los Angeles Conservancy has given Arcadia an "F" in historic preservation. The city is working to remedy this with a preservation effort started over a year ago. A city-wide intensive level survey will enable the city to gain a better understanding of where significant historic resources are located and to plan for their preservation. The next step would be to pass a historic preservation ordinance.
Arcadia welcomes the 49th Pasadena Showcase House of Design. The house will be a 1941 Monterey Colonial house designed by renowned architect Roland E. Coate. It will be renovated by Southern California's prominent interior and exterior designers and will open for public tours April 21-May 19, 2013. The showcase house is a fundraiser that supports bringing music and art programs to children.
"Mother Road"-clear road ahead to make Route 66 a historic trail. A bill that passed the House of Representatives by unanimous vote June 5, could make Route 66 a National Historic Trail, meaning the 2400 mile road that passes through 8 states, could get federal dollars for preservation, promotion and rehabilitation. Part of the road runs through Arcadia.
Who was Clara Baldwin Stocker? Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin's eldest daughter lived lavishly at her home Twin Oaks in Arcadia. See hard copy in VF Baldwin, Clara.
Arcadia City Council is divided over preservation vs. development. Should the city update a 2001 historic preservation survey of buildings and homes in Arcadia? Council members held a lively discussion about merits and costs of preserving Arcadia's historical commercial buildings and homes, designed by renowned architects.
Arcadia city officials are cracking down on "maternity tourism" boarding houses by dedicating a full-time police detective to investigate the issue. Maternity or birth tourism is a phenomenon in which women, often from China, pay a handsome fee to have their babies in the United States, so the children can be citizens. While that is not illegal, at least five establishments have been shut down for violations, such as unlawfully operating boarding house businesses in residential zones.
Arcadia City Council appoints Mickey Segal to fill John Wuo's vacated seat; officials reboot zoning code update, Highlands will be included in the historic architecture survey.
Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden will have its historic buildings upgraded and a new 5-year strategic plan is being drafted for the first time in many years. Among items to be improved are the roof replacement and stabilization of the Hugo Reid Adobe (aka Baldwin Adobe), the rehabilitation of the library, as well as roof replacements for the 126-year-old Queen Anne Cottage of "Fantasy Island" fame, and the Coach Barn. Mitchell Bishop, curator of the historic collections, said he plans to rehabilitate Baldwin Lake.
Arcadia settles building project lawsuit, paves the way to update residential zoning code and including Highland Oaks neighborhood in a citywide historic preservation survey.
Arcadia Fire Department and Monrovia Fire Department resonded to a fire that destroyed a vacant Arcadia house in the 1300 block of South First Avenue. The house was in the process of being sold and was in escrow. The damage is estimated at $300,000.
Historic windmill turns again after long hiatus. George Fasching's original idea spawns huge community pride. The Denny's windmill was dedicated on June 29 after a refurbishment.
The historic Adams' Pack Station is having a fundraiser tomorrow. The funds are needed for the 50+ year old general store at Chantry Flat, to make upgrades to meet health codes. The pack station, originally established in Sierra Madre before it moved to Chantry Flat in 1936, uses a team of donkeys to carry supplies to the cabins in the Big Santa Anita Canyon, a camp owned by the United Methodist Church.
Arcadia City Council hears public concerns over historic preservation on February 19. In 4-1 vote City Council agreed not to accept the current ordinance as is, but instead to have city staff revise it. Councilman Roger Chandler took some angry digs at local historians such as Carol Libby about the proposed ordinance. Marcello Vavala, of the Los Angeles Conservancy, said the proposed ordinance was fair because it would require consent of the homeowner to officially designate the home a historic entity.
Residents object to proposed home to be built at 920 South Fifth Street. At issue are the size of the house and how its design may not fit in with the neighborhood.